True crime aficionados and armchair detectives have been talking nonstop about Netflix's latest docuseries "Making A Murderer," which documents the trial and conviction of Manitowoc County, Wis., resident Steven Avery for the rape and murder of Teresa Halbach - a crime Avery still denies having committed. Avery claimed that evidence was planted against him by Manitowoc County police because of a $36 million lawsuit Avery was involved with against them for the wrongful conviction and incarceration for the rape of a Manitowoc County resident in 1985, a crime he served 18 years for before being exonerated by DNA evidence.
Viewers decried Avery's conviction and expressed outrage over Avery's unjust trial on social media. But Wisconsin law enforcement officials have spoken out in various interviews to defend the trial and to call out the series' directors Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi for leaving out key evidence from Avery's trial - evidence that led jurors to sentence Avery for life in prison for Halbach's murder, as previously reported by HNGN.
"It was a nearly six-week-long trial, and it would just be impossible for us to include all of the less significant evidence," Riccardi told the Wrap in defense of her documentary.
Here is a roundup of all the pieces of missing evidence law enforcement claimed was omitted from Netflix's "Making a Murderer."
DNA Evidence
Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann elaborated on the DNA evidence that linked Avery to the crime. In the documentary, law enforcement officials found the car key to Halbach's Rav4, which was discovered at Avery's Auto Salvage lot, owned by the Avery family. Officials said Avery's DNA was found on the key and the documentary didn't make it clear what type of DNA was found. "It was actually sweat, perspiration from Steven Avery," Hermann told the Hollywood Reporter. Hermann also said DNA evidence in the form of Avery's perspiration was found underneath the hood of Halbach's car, according to CNN.
Incriminating Evidence Found At Avery's Residence
Manitowoc County Police found leg shackles and irons in Avery's residence, according to the Huffington Post. They were allegedly purchased by Avery three weeks prior to Halbach's death, and they also matched the description of the restraints allegedly used to tied Halbach down to Avery's bed during her alleged rape, as per testimony from Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey. Halbach's belongings were also reportedly found in a burn barrel on the Avery property, Hermann told the Hollywood Reporter, which included her camera and her cell phone.
Avery Expressed Intent To Kill
While serving his 18-year sentence, Avery allegedly "told another inmate of his intent to build a 'torture chamber' so he could rape, torture and kill young women when he was released... even drew a diagram," Ken Kratz, the former District Attorney in neighboring Calumet County who presided over the Avery case, told People. "Another inmate was told by Avery that the way to get rid of a body is to 'burn it.'" Halbach's charred bones were discovered in a burn pit behind Avery's trailer on the auto salvage lot property, as seen in "Making a Murderer."
Phone Records
Halbach headed out to the Avery Auto Salvage lot Oct. 31, 2005, on assignment for Auto Trader magazine to take photos of a used van that Avery was selling, as seen on "Making a Murderer," and Avery was reportedly the last person to see her alive before she went missing. Her car and charred bones were discovered on the Avery property five days later. But the documentary didn't mention the phone records that reportedly proved Avery called Auto Trader magazine with his used car listing and asked specifically for Halbach on the morning of Oct. 31, since she had been to the auto lot once before on a similar assignment, Kratz told ABC News. Kratz also said Avery placed three phone calls to Halbach's cell phone on that same day, and used the *67 feature twice to block his phone number. He called a third time without using the *67 block feature.
Ballistics Evidence
A bullet found in Avery's garage tested positive with Halbach's DNA and the bullet was linked back to the gun that Avery kept above his bed in his trailer. "Ballistics said the bullet found in the garage was fired by Avery's rifle," Kratz told People.
Halbach Was 'Creeped Out' By Avery
When Halbach visited the Avery Auto Salvage lot on her first assignment, Avery reportedly greeted her wearing nothing but a towel, which "creeped her out," Kratz told People. "She [went to her employer and] said she would not go back because she was scared of him."
Dean Strang, one of the attorneys who represented Steven Avery during the 2005 trial, debunked a few of Kratz's and Hermann's missing evidence claims in an interview with Huffington Post. The claim that Halbach was afraid and didn't want to go back to the Avery Auto Salvage yard was blown out of proportion during the trial when two of her former Auto Trader co-workers testified. The Auto Trader witnesses said Halbach's reaction to Avery was more "ew" than fear, said Strang. "This is a good example of less significant prosecution evidence omitted and defense evidence omitted," he added.
